St. Landry democrat., 1887-10-22
IN MORMONDOM.
FULL STATISTICS FROM THE TER
RITORY OF UTAH.
The Report of the Commission Sent Out
There by the Governmental Large Gain
in Population Since 1SSO-Increase in
Property Value--Among the GentiIes.

There by the Governmental Large Gain
in Population Since 18SO-Increase in
Property Value-Among the Gentiles.
G. L. Godfrey, A. B. Williams and
Arthur l.. Thomas, constituting a aior-
lty Of the Utah commission, have filed
the annual report of the commission. A
tRemOrandum at the close of the dOcu-
ment says that Commissioners Carlton
and McClernand disscnted from many of
the views expressed therein and did not
sign the report.
The population of the Territory is es-
timatcd at 200, 900, gain of nearly 10000
since 1880. The valuation of the prop
erty assessed is $50, Go SOP The pros
perity Of the past seven years has been
equal to that of any former period in the
history of the Territory. On April /,
the total Mormon population in the
Territories Of Utah, Idaho, Arizona,
Wyoming, and New Mexico and
the States of Nevada and Colo
rauo, was 1G2,3S3, officially classed
as follows: Three first presidents, II
apostles, G5 patriarchs, GAIA seventies,
3,'23 high priests, 13,411 elders, 2,423
priests, 2,i91 teachers, G,S54 deacons,
1888 members, and 1868 children
under years of age. The total church
population of Utah was 1872 ,29,. Since
the death Of John Taylor, which event
fiSSn1I-aH thp fret SiIanry- for ~
third time in the history OF the church,
the government of the church rests upon
the quorum of the twelve apostles, of
which MILFORD Woodruff is president
The Mormon Church teaches the mem
bers not to enter the territorial courts
to settle their difficulties, but has pro-
vided a system of courts within the
church. The payment of tithing and
other donations for the support of the
church is vigorously urged as a religious
duty. The tithing for 1850 was $4,000
The strength of the nOn-MOrmOn ele-
ment is estimated at $1,000, and they now
own about One-third of the assessed
property Of the Territory The different
religious denominations have in Utah
81 churches The Methodist denomina-
ton has 26, the Presbvterians Is, Catho-
lies &, and SO decreasing through five
other societies. These several churches
have established and control 81 schools,
with an aggregate of 6,66S pupils and 23O
teachers.
Since the passage Of the Edmunds law
in 1882, al persons have been indicted
for unlawful cohabitation, and 2S9 of
these were convicted. The number con-
victed Of polygamy was IA. Many Of the
persons indicted have fled to escape ar
rest The national laws relating to
bigamy and polygamy have been in eff |
fectiye operation for about three years.
The Mormon leaders and their obedient |
followers have made no concession to its |
supremacy and the issue is squarelv |
maintained between assumed revelations |
and the laws of the land.
The first annual election under the act |
of Congress prescribing a registration |
oath for voters was held on August of |
this year, and resulted as follows: The !
Mormons elected ten councillors and |
twenty-one members; the liberals or
non Mormons elected two councillors .
and three members The total vote cast
was 16901.
On the subject of the movement for
the report says that in June
last a convention was held, which
adopted a constitution with great unan-
unity. 1t declares bigamv and polygamy
to be misdemeanors, and fixes the pun
ishment therefor 1t also provides that
no further legislation shall be required
to define ehese otfenses, and proclaims
the separation of church and state. The
is silent as to the otfense of
unlawful cohabitation. The non-Mor-
mons declined to recognize or join in the
proceedings of the convention. In
the election which followed upon the
adoption of this constitution the non
Mormons refused to vote, and the mo-
nogamous Mormons cast 10, 1876 votes in
its favor, only 500 votes being cast against
it, The commission regards this State
as an effort to free the Nor
mon Church from the tolls which the
firm attitude of the government and the
course of the Federal officers
have thrown around it, and opposes it.
The commission renews its recon-
of last year, except such as
were enacted into laws at the last SEES
sion of Congress. The commission also
that authority be conferred
upon the governor of the Territory to
appoint selectmen, county clerks, assess
ors, recorders and superintendent of
district schools.